Dust off those bikes and hiking poles, Valley residents — Tennant Trailhead Park is now open.

Representatives from the cities of North Bend and Issaquah, the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, King County Parks, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Si View Metropolitan Parks, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, the Trust for Public Land and local outdoor enthusiasts stood witness to the April 19 ribbon cutting of the park at 12201 W. Ribary Way, North Bend.

The long-awaited 33-acre greenbelt property turned multi-use trail system, designed and constructed by North Bend’s Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, has 2.1 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails for beginners and those seeking more advanced trail experiences.

The ribbon cutting came eight years after the City of North Bend, Si View Metropolitan Parks, King County Parks and the Trust for Public Lands came together to acquire the land, perpetually saving it from residential or commercial development.

“Together, we have created a new city park that serves many purposes: to preserve open space, to provide more outdoor recreation while increasing trail connectivity, and, importantly, to acknowledge and share the Snoqualmie Tribe’s deep history and profound connection to this land,” said North Bend Mayor Mary Miller at the event. “Projects such as these strengthen our government-to-government relationship and offer new opportunities for all of us to learn.”

In partnership with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and as an indicator of its role in the project, each trail name is posted in Lushootseed — the native language of the Snoqualmie people.

The informational kiosk in the trailhead parking lot includes a pronunciation guide for each trail name. It serves as an opportunity for users to learn about the connection tribes have to these ancestral lands, according to the Si View Metropolitan Parks website.

“Opening the Tennant Trail System is more than creating a new place to recreate,” said Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Chairman Robert de los Angeles to the ribbon-cutting crowd. “It’s about inviting everyone to recreate respectfully through a better understanding of the cultural importance of this land, marked by the names in our native language, Lushootseed.”

Tennant Trailhead Park is open daily from 7 a.m. until dusk. Users will find a 29-stall parking lot with ample street parking on the adjacent Ribary Way.

Si View Metropolitan Parks reminds users to familiarize themselves with trail maps because some trails are designated for either hikers or bikers. Users are asked to stay on designated trails and to respect other users, wildlife and the surrounding nature in the park.

A temporary park closure is expected in May once the park’s permanent restroom arrives. Until then, a portable restroom will be available on-site.

A bike repair station funded by the Snoqualmie Valley Rotary and a future park extension connecting Tennant Trailhead Park to the neighboring Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area and Raging River State Forest are also in the works.

Signage at Tennant Trailhead Park. Photo courtesy of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance